Friends of Bayou Lafourche releases master plan for Nicholls State University Bayou-Side Park
The Board of Directors for Friends of Bayou Lafourche, Inc. (FOBL) is pleased to publicly release the Nicholls State University Bayou-Side Comprehensive Master Plan.
A Cooperative Endeavor Agreement was signed with Nicholls State University in December of 2017 to “collaborate with the University to establish a program for the (bayou-side) property with an emphasis on faculty, staff, student, and public recreation.” FOBL acquired funding from Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou in order to procure a landscape architecture team with Duplantis Design Group to design a phased master plan.
Four meetings were held with Nicholls administration, faculty, staff, student leaders, and community key stakeholders to develop the comprehensive plan. Representatives of the City of Thibodaux, Lafourche Parish Government, Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District, Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, Thibodaux Regional Medical Center, Bayou Rowing Association, and others participated in the planning meetings.
The plan includes but is not limited to boardwalks, floating dock, outdoor classroom, amphitheater, sculpture pads, walking trails, off-street parking, pavilion, boathouse, special-use boat launch, covered seating, multi-use building, and enhancements to Hwy 1. With the cooperation of the university, FOBL intends to seek construction funding in order to make the plan a reality through phased implementation. Funding for Phase 1, which will provide access to the bayou, has already been requested through a federal recreation program.
Ryan M. Perque, Executive Director for Friends of Bayou Lafourche, said “The excitement and enthusiasm around this project has been extremely encouraging. This project is one of kind for our region and will be a great asset for Bayou Lafourche and Nicholls. We are thrilled to begin the next stage of this project which includes funding and construction.”
Additional renderings of the master plan can be found at: http://bayoulafourche.org/category/projects/nicholls-bayou-side-redevelopment/.
Friends of Bayou Lafourche Inc. was formed by several concerned community members and the Bayou Lafourche Freshwater District in 2016 and is recognized as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The mission of FOBL is to raise the awareness of the importance of Bayou Lafourche and its revitalization, through education and informational outreach, and by the creation of recreation and beautification opportunities along the bayou.
Contributed by Friends of Bayou Lafourche